The French threesome: Chemistry Nobel for world's tiniest machines

Jean-Pierre Sauvage of France, J Fraser Stoddart of Britain and Bernard Feringa of the Netherlands won the Nobel Chemistry Prize yesterday for developing molecular machines, the world’s smallest machines

Stockholm: Jean-Pierre Sauvage of France, J Fraser Stoddart of Britain and Bernard Feringa of the Netherlands won the Nobel Chemistry Prize yesterday for developing molecular machines, the world’s smallest machines.

“They have developed molecules with controllable movements, which can perform a task when energy is added,” the jury said, adding, “The molecular motor is at the same stage as the electric motor was in the 1830s, when scientists displayed various spinning cranks and wheels, unaware that they would lead to electric trains, washing machines, fans and food processors.”

Molecular machines will “most likely be used in the development of things such as new materials, sensors and energy storage systems,” it said. The three will share the eight million Swedish kronor (around $933,000) prize equally.

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